In newly issued Energy Saving & Carbon reduction Plan, china signaled to “reasonably control” coal power capacity growth. Evenly significant, it suggested resolutely curbing “unreasonable” growth of energy consumption. Most likely it is to curb power- intensive industries. This is a good news.

China has outlined plans to “reasonably control” the scale of coal power plants, after a persistent surge in the past few years. It jointly issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council, carrying political weight for government officials at all levels.

If the Energy Information Agency can do this, the open-data non-governmental-organizations can do it and will do it the best. Right? @globalenergymon.bsky.social

I’m thinking of those several dozens GM new gas plants relying on imported LNG in China’s coastal areas built after 2022 Russia-Ukraine war energy crisis. Are they foreseeing this to come? Did they think such crisis would not happen again? Are they too naively optimistic or simply too greedy?

"...fallout from the Iran war is equivalent to the two major oil crises of the 1970s and the 2022 gas crisis “put together.” Wow! 2026-2027 will feature accelerating global energy transition to non-fossil fuel generation, EVs, heat pumps, electrification. www.cnbc.com/2026/03/23/i... #energysky

China’s LNG imports declined significantly in 2025 due to higher spot prices. The US/Israel-Iran war pushed the price going higher and also physically blocked the logistics flow. LNG does not make sense on both energy security and economy for China, especially when renewables grow so fast.

4年前国家电网宣布将要在十四五期间投资3800亿元建设24交14直特高压线路。如今十四五已经过去，成绩如何？根据GEM的统计，国家电网十四五期间投资特高压3081亿元，建成了8交8直特高压线路。其中用于可再生能源传输的直流特高压只有3条，全部在十四五的最后一年2025年投产。不论从投产总量还是对可再生能源支持力度上看，都没有完成目标。最近又有消息称国家电网计划在十五五期间建设15条直流特高压以支持可再生能源外送。可问题是，到2030年西北地区风光大基地将要投产4.55亿千瓦，外送3.15亿。以现有一条线年传输180亿度电算，需要至少21条线才行。国家电网甚至在规划阶段就已经注定要完不成任务了。

1/4 century ago, the coal industry warned that the Internet would overwhelm the grid without massive new coal capacity. Today, Gas and nuclear vendors that can’t beat energy efficiency and renewables in competitive markets are leveraging hype into mandates and subsidies to rescue their losers.

In his first term, Trump tried to promote new coal plant but it didn’t work. This time he changed tactics for the same goal. A dirty, outdated and dying industry doesn’t deserve taxpayers money.

China’s known as a renewable leader, less known it’s a coal giant, even less known it’s world No.2 gas power developer, even though gas only generates 4% of total power. GEM’s new data shows the US surpassed China in new proposals in 2025. A race to the bottom continues.

Today's @carbonbrief.org explainer on gas in China featured @aiqun.bsky.social: "With the rapid expansion of renewables and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, I don’t foresee a bright future for gas power.” 🔌 www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-wh...

It’s heartbreaking to see this picture of the fire in Hong Kong. The fatality is over 80 and still growing. The cause was reportedly the bamboo-made scaffolding. When I was visiting Hong Kong this spring I was amused by these scaffolding, kidding to a friend “I hope they don’t catch fire “. 一语成谶！

Unlike in many rankings in which Switzerland is mostly among top 3 or 5, in the ranking of tackling Climate Change, however, Switzerland is only seated in No. 26. What is dragging it down?

Source:Forbes.The green premium is dead. China killed it with low-cost solar, wind and batteries, affordable EVs and dominance in critical minerals. Unless North Americans and Europeans wake up to this reality, their citizens will pay a hefty fossil premium with economic and political consequences.

First 3 quarters China reported 2% increase in coal production, 1.7% crude oil production, 2.6%oil imports and 6% gas production. The only decrease is gas imports (6.2%). I wonder how CO2 emissions can flat while fossil fuels burning more.

@mzjacobson.bsky.social Stanford University Professor of Civil and Environmental engineering explains how Carbon Capture and Storage INCREASES emissions www.youtube.com/shorts/GvFir...

dialogue.earth/en/digest/ch... railway line in China is now powered by solar power, so that it can transport coal sustainably. Similarly, Carbon capture technology is used to help digging more fossil oil. They reminds me my hometown once green painted a barren hill to pass “green city “ inspection.

share.google/oAwozSiuhtLQ... A note: The policy issued by China’s central government in the end of last year which only allows wind turbines installed 30 km offshore or in 30 meters deep water is a key factor behind these technology innovations withstanding typhoons.

The August referendum rejected the revival of nuclear power in Taiwan, leaving an open question: What will Taiwan do next? My Taipei-based colleague Cheng Cheng and I try to answer this question—https://energytracker.asia/after-nuclear-renewables-can-power-an-energy-secure-taiwan/

In early 2000s, Dr. Goodall visited Beijing and I got a chance interviewed her. She started with mimicking a chimpanzee greeting. It was so loud and unexpected that I couldn’t believe it was from a quiet and amiable lady in her late 60s. Today that powerful greeting resonates again. RIP Dr. Goodall.

President Xi ‘s UN speech & NDC includes 3 numbers by 2035: 7-10%Carbon reduction; 6 folds renewable installations and 30% non fossil fuels energy consumption. 2&3 are easier than the first because China is good at doing additions, not subtractions.

So, EU is not able to buy $250 billion of US fossil fuels, and US is not able to sell that much either. But they signed an agreement anyway. Is this a joke? Are they making a muddy pie like two kids?

GEM grew from a bold idea to a near 90 staff nonprofit isn’t only by chance or luck. It’s the sophisticated strategy Ted crafted laid foundation for it. Ted’s legacy will be carried on. Wish GEM go higher and further under new leadership of Justin. Be a pivotal org in the transition to clean energy.

Unthinkable just 10 years ago: Almost 3/4 of the EU’s electricity in 2024 was from renewable energy sources and nuclear. Gas and coal electricity generation is at record low levels.

Gas power has grown quickly in the past four years in China, but geopolitical and economic uncertainties make it a vulnerability. Maggie and I wrote an op-ed to argue that betting on gas is a short-sighted strategy.

After Spain/Portugal blackout, a Chinese friend said that such things won’t happen in China because “we have coal”. Spain will learn lessons from the accident but going back to coal is not one. Seeking comfort from coal is a default solution for many Chinese in energy sector.

China permitted 10 nuclear reactors today. The 4th year in a row adding at least 10 each year. It’s passed France and only after the US, Like in a competition game. Only it’s playing an extremely deadly, extremely dirty and extremely expensive power game.

Even Gold Trump pin is made in China!

The T-shirt saying boycott China is made in China!

Traveled in southern China for 2 weeks. A big impression compared to 10-15 years ago was that the streets in big cities like Guangzhou were much quieter thanks to the EV. No more loud motors and buses. Hong Kong, on the contrary, is still noisy, especially those big buses.

2024 is the 5th year in a row that China’s power consumption increase is faster than its GDP growth. In other words, consuming more power didn’t result in higher economic value, only delayed China’s carbon peak and energy transition. It’s a lose-lose situation.

Forward: 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Tingri, Tibet is a warning. The Tingri area and the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon area are both in the southern earthquake zone of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The many huge faults distributed along the Himalayas are the most active earthquake fault in modern times.

A mega dam on Yarlung Tsangpo 3 times as big as Three Gorges Dam is approved. When TGD planned in 1980s, experts and activists debating for it. When Nu River Dams were planned in 2000s, a civil movement successfully postponed it. Sadly no voice within China this time. China’s civil society is dead.

23 “super-emitter” scale methane emissions linked to 8 global coal mines. Three of them in China. GEM’s new briefing found out. 23 super methane plumes were detected by satellites since January 2023 and repeated in the span of 16 months.

#Switzerland’s amazing Alpine cabins have become part of our national identity. Yet as a microcosm of the global climate crisis, they are now at risk from melting #permafrost, receding glaciers and other threats. 😢 My personal reflections on the topic on #SwissClimateRambles at tinyurl.com/52ypwmh3

A new Central government owned enterprise (COE), China Resources Recycling Group was quietly established in October. No. 98 COE with a goal to build a national recycling and reuse platform. SASAC, Baowu Steel, Sinopec, China Resources, Chinalco and China Minmetals are major shareholders.

Wish all turkeys and humans a happy and harmonious Thanksgiving!

2023 China produced 4.7 billion tonnes of coal (51% of the world) and imported another 470 mt. Only 58% of it was used for power generation. As comparison, 92% of coal in the US was for power generation. Coal issue in China is not only a power issue.

The Energy Law requires news media to promote energy saving, energy safety and green, low-carbon development. — it’s typical a Chinese cliche but I wish all news outlets can do that without a law requirement.

Overall however the law is mainly a bureaucratic update of existing laws on different energy sources and subsectors.

China's new energy law, after two decades in the making, was issued recently. THREAD dialogue.earth/en/digest/ch...

www.bbc.com/future/artic... Xiaoying You, a reward winning freelancer, spent months digging into China’s UHV grid, a unique phenomenon. She interviewed a dozen people including me, half of them men and half of them women, an interesting requirement by BBC. Today the story finally comes out!

A test post: last week in the town of Meilen when the sun managed to break the thick clouds.